Process of sparging.



J. SCHAEFER.

PROCESS 0F SPARGING.

APPLICATION man Aua.1o. 1912.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Nfl/1 me Nmmls Pgrsns co.. Nara-Limo.. WASMINCYDN n C rar raros.

TOSEPI-I SCI-IAEFER, OF FRANKFQRT-ON-TI-IE-MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM 0F SIMON, BI-ILER & BAUMANN, COMPOSED OF HUGO GREFFENIUS, E. D. SIMON, AND ADOLF BI-ILER, DOING BUSINESS AT FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN,

GERMANY.

EROCESS 0F SPARGING.

weaves.

Patented oet. io, i916.

Application filed August 10, 1912. Serial No. 714,322.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOSEPH SCHAEFER, a subject of the German Emperor, and resident of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Processes l of Sparging, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a mash filter in which the mash filter frames are arranged on each side of a central stationary head which is provided with suitable valves for controlling` the inflow of water and the outflow of the spargings. This arrangement greatly simpliiies the control of the filter and enables me to carry out my improved process. whereby I obtain more uniform and thorough sparging of the grains cake as will be fully described hereinafter. By my method of circulating the water through the mash filter I am enabled to obtain new results as to the flow and pressure of 'the water through the respective filter cakes, thereby subjecting each cake to substantially the same amount of leaching. Hence l obtain richer spargings for the amount of 'water used, and there is less loss from soluble material remaining in the cakes. These and other features will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating my improved mash lter and features of its operation in accordance with my method of sparging.

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of one form of my improved mash filter; Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation of the stationary filter head and control valves; Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the course of the sparging water through aI series of frames by the ordinary process; Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the course of the sparging water according to my method; Fig. 5 represents diagrammatically the flow and pressure in different filter cake frames in the filter by the ordinary method; Fig. G is a similar diagram of the How and pressure at different points in my apparatus, and Fig. 7 represents an illustrative device referred to in describing the flow and pressure of the water.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents the end supports for the side rails 2, the central portion of which is supported by the middle piece or a fixed dividing head 3. The filter cake frames 4 are supported by the side rails 2 in the usual manner and may be constructed in the usual or any preferred manner. Preferably the well known S. B. B. mash filter type of frame is used and assembled as shown diagrammatically in Figs.. 3 and 4, and also in my Patent No. 1,141,491 of June 1, 1915. The middle fixed head 3 1s arranged to cooperate with the filter cake frames and to divide them into two series extending in opposite' directions from the fixed head 3. Slidably mounted on the side rails 2 at the outer end of each series of the frames 4 is a movable head 5 which is adapted to close the last of the series of filter frames. The two movable heads 5 are connected by a screw 6 or otherwise adapted to be` forced toward each other and toward the midde fixed head 3 and thereby securely clamp all the filter frames 4 in the two series between the respective heads 5 and the middle head 9, thereby closing all the joints between adjacent frames and rendering the entire system water tight.

rlhe two screws 6 are suitably turned in any desired manner to draw the movable heads together, as for instance, by means of the worm shaft 7, passing through the fixed head 3 and driven by a motor 8 also supported on the fixed head, (see Fig. 2) so as to simultaneously turn the screws 6 in the same direction. In my improved construction it will be seen that all the control valves, as well as the motor are mounted on the middle fixe-d head 3 whereby the operator or attendant is enabled to quickly and readily manipulate the valves and control the flow of water and spargings without traversing the entire length ofthe mash filter. r The pipes 9 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ar adapted to communicate with the respective filter cake frames 4 for the introduction of the mash in the usual ymanner to form the grains cakes which are afterward treated b v the leaching or sparging process hereinafter described.

. The pipes 10 communicating through the valves 1.1 with canals or channels in the series of filter frames 4 are adapted to supply the water required for spargiug the grains cakes. The valves 12 and pipes 13 are connected through the Vfixed head 3 with the usual channels or conduits communicating with the individual filter frames for drawing oii' the spargingr and permit the circulation of the water tl l'Jugh the frames 4 according to my process. rlhe spargings are drawn off in any suitable manner through the outlet pipe 14 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

ln order to more clearly explain the ad- 5 vantage's of my processofsparging over the usual method, diagrammatic Figs. 3 to 7 have been introduced and will be referred to in the following description. By the ordinarymethod of sparging'the water'is introduced at vone end of the series of filter frames el containing the grains cakes and the spargings flow out at theother `end ofthe series. ln the diagram Fig. 3 the point of' entry of the water is represented at A and the point of exit of the spargings 'at B. Arrows indicate the direction of fiow of the water l "through the conduits and filter frames. The

`rate of flow through the series will depend 'onthepressure or velocity of the water and the resistance offered by the various grains cakes. Afterthe sparging has been started it -will'beseen th-at the'rate vof flow will be the 'saine at A-and B but the rate of 'fiow in the ltwo conduits or canals, will be different at Vvarious corresivionding filter frames along the length of the filter. If, for instance, we consider the rate of flow at the point of the entry A of the canal as 2 m. (nrzmeters) per second, we shall have-the same velocity or rate vof' flow at the exit B of the other canal.

The rate of fiow along the entrance canal will gradually decreasetoward the end A', at which point it will be very s'mall,fsay 0.1 1n. Tnthe elvit or outflowcafnal the greatest rate voff-flow or Q 1n. will be at the exit end B 'while 'the least rate of'flow or 0.1 1n.`will be at lthe end B. The rate of flow into lateral branches or into the filter frames varies with the rate of flow in the respective main canals.

40 For an understanding of' this point reference 'may be Vha'dto the operation of any well -lnown form of injector such as illustrated diagrammatically in'Fig. 7 of the drawings. 'If'the 'rate of flow of water through the entryvend Cis small the water will flow out through D land D. As the rate of flow r`throughC1-increases, the-rate'of flow out of D will decrease until-finally no water will A`Aflow out of D and further increase of velocitywilll result ina suction through D. It

will therefore loef'seenv that the less the velocity of'fiow through C the greater will be the outflow through D Zand the greater the flow vtlirough C 'the lessthefoutflow through D.

5 This serves to illustrate the principle of opthis point the velocity is the least (0.1) and hence in the corresponding filter cake outflow or filtrate chamber the pressure is the greatest. l have indicated these relations by signs in 'the water'chamber and -lsigns in the outflow or filter chamber.

At'the middle filter cake where the rate of flow in the water inlet canal and in the outflow 'canal is indicated at 1 m. the pressure in the water and filtrate chambers will be substantially the same. This condition is indicated in the middle view in Fig. 5 by both and signs in the chambers on each side of' the filter cake. Similarly the condition ratv the filter cake nearest the outflow end represented by the upper view in Fig. 5.

On the inflowy side the velocity of' flow is least and the pressure greatest, while on the outlet side the velocity of flow is greatest andthe pressure least.v these conditions being indicated by the -lsigns on the water chamber or infiow side and'by the signs on the filtrate or outflow side. i

Now it is a peculiar fact that inthe treatment of filter or grains cakes during the sparging process the best results are obtained when the relative di'erence of pressure on the'two sides of the grains cakes is the same, otherwise excessive difference of' pressure has a tendency to compact the material of the cakes and particularly the richer malt meal next to the filter cloths.

{tienes-differences of' pressure on the two sides of the filtercakes, such as is present inthe usual mash filter affects greatly the leaching of' the various cakes throughout the series.

Taking these various conditions into consideration the relative thoroughness of leaching in the series of filter cakes by the usual sparging process may be graphically illustrated by the shaded area inclosed between 'the two curved lines shown in Fig. 3. From this it will be evident that only the middle filter cakes are thoroughly leached while the end ones are still comparatively rich in the. soluble malt sugars.

In Fig. 6 the rrelative velocities and pressures throughout my type oit-mash filter are diagra-mmatically shown. E represents the lli? point of entry of the water at say 2 m per ..f

second velocity, then at the opposite end, FX, of the water cafnal the rate of flow will have dropped to 0.1m. while at the middle the rate of flow will be approximately 1 m. per

second. Bymy vprocess it will be seen that 1, `the-spargings are drawn ofi at the same end that the water enters hence the rate of outflow atF will be 2 m. persecond and at the opposite end F ofthe canal 0.1 m. while at the middle the velocity will be 1 m. per 1:'

second. Thus in my apparatus, throughoutA the* series of filter Acake frames, the rate of flow in the canals on the water chamber side and on the filtrate side of vthe respective grains cakes beingequal thepressures inthe opposite chambers will be equal. These conditions as to the first, middle and last filter cakes are illustrated in F ig. 6. At the irst lter cake where the inliow velocity is 2 m. (at E) and outiow velocity is 2 m. the pressure in the water chamber and in the filtrate chamber will be the same but according to the explanation given in connection with the injector Fig. 7 the lowest pressure will exist at the first grains cake. This condition is represented by signs in both the water and ltrate chambers. At the middle grains cake where the rate of flow is given as l m. in each of the canals the pressure on each side of the grains cake will also be the same and as the pressure will be an average of the highest and lowest it is represented by both and signs in each of the water and filtrate chambers. Similarly at the end cake (at E', F where the lowest rate of flow or 0.1 m. exists the pressure on each side is the same. These conditions are represented by signs in each of the water and filtrate chambers. Since, as ,previously explained, the best results and most thorough leaching are hobtained when the pressure on each side of the respective grains cake is substantially the same, it will be readily seen that by my process each and every grains cake throughout the entire mash filter will be subjected to practically the same treatment and hence the result will be more thorough leaching or sparging for a given amount of water used and less loss from soluble material remaining in the cakes.

Various modifications may be made in the apparatus or method of operation without departing from the spiritand scope of myv invention as defined by the claims, for instance my process may be carried out with an apparatus having the inlet and outlet valve head at one end instead of in the center, but I prefer the apparatus with centrally located headpiece as herein shown because of the following advantages: central control of the valves in lilling and sparg ing; saving of time in cleaning7 for the frames can be simultaneously moved at each end; and if desired the series on each side of the central head can be used alternately, one being cleaned while sparging is going on in the other.

I claim:

l. The herein described process of sparging which consists in forming grains cakes in a series with open spaces forming chambers therebetween, alternately connecting the chambers to inflow and outiiow canals, admitting water through the inflow canal in one direction and withdrawing the spargings from the outiiow canal in substantially the reverse direction.

2. The herein described process of sparging which consists in forming grains cakes in a series with open spaces forming chambers therebetween,` alternately connecting the chambers to inliow and outflow canals, admitting water to the infiow canal and withdrawing the spargings from the outflow canal at the same end of the series of grains cakes.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH SCHAEFER.

Titnesses JEAN GRUND, CARL GRUND.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissionex` of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

